Titanium dioxide pigment particles with doped, dense SiO2 skin and methods for their manufacture

ABSTRACT

A method of predicting photostability of coatings with various dopants on titanium dioxide pigment particles is disclosed. Calculations of the density of states show that a doped coating which reduces the density of states near the band edge or increases the density of states within the band gap of the pigment particles increases the photostability of the doped pigment.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/772,919 filed Feb. 13, 2006, and to German applications DE102006004345.6 filed 30 Jan. 2006 and DE102006054988.8 filed 22 Nov. 2006 and is related to a second application filed on the same date as the present application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to titanium dioxide pigment particles whose surface is provided with a dense silicon dioxide skin doped with doping elements, and methods for their manufacture. The titanium dioxide pigment particles according to the invention display improved photostability.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Because of its high refractive index, titanium dioxide is used as a high-quality pigment in many sectors, e.g. plastics, coatings, paper and fibres. However, titanium dioxide is photoactive, meaning that undesired photocatalytic reactions occur as a result of UV absorption, leading to degradation of the pigmented material [The Chemical Nature of Chalking in the Presence of Titanium Dioxide Pigments, H. G. Völz, G. Kaempf, H. G. Fitzky, A. Klaeren, ACS Symp. Ser. 1981, 151, Photodegradation and Photostabilization of Coatings].

In this context, titanium dioxide pigments absorb light in the near ultraviolet range, the result being that electron-hole pairs are produced, which lead to the formation of highly reactive radicals on the titanium dioxide surface. The radicals produced in this way result in binder degradation in organic media. It is known from experimental investigations that hydroxyl ions play a dominant role in the photocatalytic process [Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Water Contaminants: Mechanism Involving Hyroxyl Radical Attack, C. S. Turchi, D. F. Ollis, Journal of Catalysis 122, 1990, 178-192].

It is known that the photoactivity of TiO₂ can be reduced by doping the TiO₂ particles (e.g. with aluminium) or by means of inorganic surface treatment (e.g. by coating with oxides of silicon and/or aluminium and/or zirconium) [Industrial Inorganic Pigments, ed. by G. Buxbaum, VCH, New York 1993, Seite 58-60]. In particular, several patents describe the application of the most dense possible, amorphous layer of SiO₂ to the particle surface, this being known as a “dense skin”. The purpose of this skin is to prevent the formation of free radicals on the particle surface.

Wet-chemical methods for production of a dense SiO₂ skin, and of a further Al₂O₃ coating on inorganic particles, particularly on TiO₂, are described in patents U.S. Pat. No. 2,885,366, U.S. RE. 27,818 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,412. EP 0 245 984 B1 indicates a method which, as a result of simultaneous addition of a solution containing Na₂SiO₃ and a solution containing B₂O₃, can be performed at relatively low temperatures of 65 to 90° C.

SiO₂ dense-skin treatments are also carried out in order to increase the abrasion resistance of glass fibres coated in this way and reduce the slipping properties of the fibres in the products manufactured. In this connection, U.S. Pat. No. 2,913,419 describes a wet-chemical method in which silicic acid is precipitated onto the particle surface together with polyvalent metal ions, such as Cu, Ag, Ba, Mg, Be, Ca, Sr, Zn, Cd, Al, Ti, Zr, Sn, Pb, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni.

The method according to US 2006/0032402 makes it possible to increase the photostability of dense-skin TiO₂ pigments. It is based on the incorporation of Sn, Ti or Zr in the SiO₂ skin applied by a wet-chemical process.

In addition to the known wet-chemical methods for coating the surface of TiO₂ particles, there are also dry-chemical methods in which the dense SiO₂ skin is deposited from the gas phase. In this case, during titanium dioxide production by the chloride process, a silicon compound, preferably SiCl₄, is added to the TiO₂ particle stream with a temperature of over 1,000° C., such that a uniform, dense SiO₂ layer is formed on the particle surface.

EP 1 042 408 B1 describes a gas-phase method for surface coating with Si and B, P, Mg, Nb or Ge oxide.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object is solved by titanium dioxide pigment particles whose surface is coated with a dense SiO₂ skin deposited from the gas phase and doped with at least one doping element, whereby the doping element is selected from the groupconsisting of Sn, Sb, In, Y, Zn, F, Mn, Cu, Mo, Cd, Ce, W and Bi as well as mixtures thereof.

The object is furthermore solved by titanium dioxide pigment particles whose surface is coated with a dense SiO₂ skin produced in a wet-chemical process and doped with at least one doping element, whereby the doping element is selected from the group consisting of Sb, In, Ge, Y, Nb, F, Mo, Ce, W and Bi as well as mixtures thereof.

The object is furthermore solved by a method for manufacturing titanium dioxide pigment particles whose surface is coated with a dense SiO₂ skin doped with at least one doping element, comprising the steps:

a) Reaction, in the gas phase, of titanium tetrachloride with an aluminium halide and a gas containing oxygen in a reactor at a temperature over 1,000° C., in order to create a particle stream containing TiO₂ particles,

b) Contacting of the particle stream with at least two compounds, where the first compound is a silicon oxide precursor compound and the second compound is selected from the group consisting of oxide precursor compounds of Sn, Sb, In, Y, Zn, Mn, Cu, Mo, Cd, Ce, W, Bi and precursor compounds of F as well as mixtures thereof,

c) Cooling of the particle stream, in order to create pigment particles that are coated with a dense SiO₂ skin doped with at least one doping element, wherein the doping elements are selected from the groupconsisting of Sn, Sb, In, Y, Zn, F, Mn, Cu, Mo, Cd, Ce, W and Bi as well as mixtures thereof.

Finally, a further solution to the object consists in a method for manufacturing titanium dioxide pigment particles whose surface is coated with a dense SiO₂ skin doped with at least one doping element, comprising the steps:

a) Provision of an aqueous suspension of TiO₂ particles with a pH value in excess of 10,

b) Addition of an aqueous solution of an alkaline silicon component and at least one aqueous solution of a component containing a doping element, wherein the doping element is selected from the groupconsisting of Sb, In, Ge, Y, Nb, F, Mo, Ce W and Bi as well as mixtures thereof.

c) Deposition of a dense SiO₂ skin doped with at least one doping element on the surface of the particles by lowering the pH value of the suspension to a value below 9, preferably to below 8, where the doping elements are selected from the groupconsisting of Sb, In, Ge, Y, Nb, F, Mo, Ce, W and Bi as well as mixtures thereof.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are indicated in the sub-claims.

The subject matter of the invention is coated titanium dioxide pigments that are further improved in terms of their photostability.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The pigments according to the invention contain, in a dense skin on the titanium dioxide particle surface, preferably 0.1 to 6.0% by weight, and more preferably 0.2 to 4.0% by weight, silicon, calculated as SiO₂, and preferably 0.01 to 3.0% by weight, and more preferably 0.05 to 2.0% by weight, doping elements, calculated as oxide or, in the case of F, as element and referred to the total pigment.

In a preferred embodiment, the particles are coated with an additional layer of 0.5 to 6.0% by weight, more preferably 1.0 to 4.0% by weight, aluminium oxide or hydrous aluminium oxide, calculated as Al₂O₃ and referred to the total pigment.

The titanium dioxide particles are preferably rutile.

Here and below, “doping element” is to be taken to mean the respective element as atom or ion or a respective compound like an oxide, where appropriate. In the context of the description of the coatings produced by the wet-chemical process, the term “oxide” is to be taken, here and below, to also mean the corresponding hydrous oxides or corresponding hydrates. All data disclosed below regarding pH value, temperature, concentration in % by weight or % by volume, etc., are to be interpreted as including all values lying in the range of the respective measuring accuracy known to the person skilled in the art.

The invention is based on the fact that, in order to increase the photostability, the photocatalytic process must be interrupted in a suitable manner, i.e. that the production of highly reactive radicals by excited electron-hole pairs must be made more difficult. This can be achieved by utilising various mechanisms, e.g. by increasing the recombination rate of the electron-hole pairs, or by building up an energetic barrier on the pigment surface.

A dense and uniformly applied SiO₂ skin already builds up an energetic barrier on the TiO₂ surface, as detectable by a reduced energy state density near the band edge in the valence band and in the conduction band of the coated TiO₂ surface, compared to the untreated TiO₂ surface. Surprisingly, doping of the SiO₂ skin with selected elements leads to a further reduction in the energy state densities near the band edge, thus raising the energetic barrier and thus further improving the photostability of the TiO₂ pigment coated in this way.

Additional energy states within the band gap between the valence band and conduction band promote the recombination of electron-hole pairs. Doping of the SiO₂ layer with selected elements generates these energy states and thus effects also an improvement in photostability compared to an undoped SiO₂ layer.

The elements Sn, Sb, In, Ge, Y, Zr, Zn, Nb, F, Mn, Cu, Mo, Cd, Ce, W, and Bi have proven to be suitable doping components. The doped SiO₂ skin can be applied both by the wet-chemical method and by the gas-phase method. It is, however, known that the gas-phase method is generally capable of applying a more uniform skin than the wet-chemical method. Other elements not yet calculated are also anticipated by the inventors, and can be found by ordinary experimentation with computer calculation as shown in this specification. All such elements as have not yet been found by physical and chemical experimentation are claimed in this invention. The effective doping elements found so far, which are excluded in the claims, are doping elements selected from the group consisting of Ag, Al, B, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, Sr, Ti, Zn, and Zr for the wet chemical process, and the doping elements selected from the group consisting of Al, B, Ge, Mg, Nb, P, Zr for the dry process.

In addition, combinations of elements used as dopants can also be found by computer calculation of energy state densities and band gap states. The combination of two or more dopants can interact and produce a result which is more than either of the two dopants separately, and such synergetic combinations in the composition ranges necessary are found easily by methods of the present invention, and would be very difficult and time consuming to find by ordinary experimentation by methods introduced in the prior art.

An example of the invention is described below with the help of FIGS. 1 to 18.

FIG. 1 shows the energy states at the transition from the atom to the solid (taken from: P. A. Cox, “The Electronic Structure and Chemistry of Solids”, Oxford Science Publications 1987, p. 13).

FIG. 2 shows the energy state density of the TiO₂ surface without and with SiO₂ coating.

FIG. 3 shows the energy state density of the TiO₂ surface with SiO₂ coating and with Sn-doped SiO₂ coating.

FIG. 4 shows the energy state density of the TiO₂ surface with SiO₂ coating and with Sb-doped SiO₂ coating.

FIG. 5 shows the energy state density of the TiO₂ surface with SiO₂ coating and with In-doped SiO₂ coating.

FIG. 6 shows the energy state density of the TiO₂ surface with SiO₂ coating and with Ge-doped SiO₂ coating.

FIG. 7 shows the energy state density of the TiO₂ surface with SiO₂ coating and with Y-doped SiO₂ coating.

FIG. 8 shows the energy state density of the TiO₂ surface with SiO₂ coating and with Nb-doped SiO₂ coating.

FIG. 9 shows the energy state density of the TiO₂ surface with SiO₂ coating and with F-doped SiO₂ coating.

FIG. 10 shows the energy state density of the TiO₂ surface with SiO₂ coating and with Mn-doped SiO₂ coating.

FIG. 11 shows the energy state density of the TiO₂ surface with SiO₂ coating and with Cu-doped SiO₂ coating.

FIG. 12 shows the energy state density of the TiO₂ surface with SiO₂ coating and with Mo-doped SiO₂ coating.

FIG. 13 shows the energy state density of the TiO₂ surface with SiO₂ coating and with Cd-doped SiO coating.

FIG. 14 shows the energy state density of the TiO₂ surface with coating and with Ce-doped SiO₂ coating.

FIG. 15 shows the energy state density of the TiO₂ surface with SiO₂ coating and with W-doped SiO₂ coating.

FIG. 16 shows the energy state density of the TiO₂ surface with SiO₂ coating and with Bi-doped SiO₂ coating.

FIG. 17 shows the energy state density of the TiO₂ surface with SiO₂ coating and with Mg-doped SiO₂ coating.

FIG. 18 shows the energy state density of the TiO₂ surface with SiO₂ coating and with Al-doped SiO₂ coating.

The energy state densities were calculated quantum-mechanically with the help of the CASTEP software package (Version 4.6, 1 Jun. 2001) from Accelrys Inc., San Diego. The calculations were performed using the CASTEP density functional code in the LDA (local density approximation). Detailed information has been published by V. Milman et al. in: International Journal of Quant. Chemistry 77 (2000), p. 895 to 910.

The following valence states, including the semi-core states, were used for titanium: 3s, 3p, 3d, 4s and 4p. The valence states 2s and 2p were used for oxygen, and the valence states 3s and 3p for silicon. For the doping elements, the semi-core states 4d or 4s and 4p or 2p were included for indium, yttrium and magnesium. The basic set used for the doping elements was as follows:

Sn: 5s, 5p, 6s, 6p, 7s

Sb: 5s, 5p, 6s, 6p, 7s

In: 4d, 5s, 5p, 6s, 6p, 7s

Ge: 4s, 4p, 4d

Y: 4s, 4p, 4d, 5s, 5p

Nb: 4s, 4p, 4d, 5s, 5p

F: 2s, 2p

Mn: 3d, 4s, 4p

Cu: 3d, 4s, 4p

Mo: 4s, 4p, 4d, 5s, 5p

Cd: 4d, 5s, 5p, 6s, 6p

Ce: 4f, 5s, 5p, 6s, 6p, 7s, 7p, 8s

W: 5d, 6s, 6p

Bi: 6s, 6p, 7s, 7p, 8s

Mg: 2p, 3s, 3p

Al: 3s, 3p

The kinetic energy cut-off for the plane waves was 380 eV. Structural geometric optimisation was not performed, since the mathematical model could be evaluated and confirmed on the basis of known experimental results (coating with Sn, Al, Zr and Zn). Thus, the model calculations yield sufficient accuracy for examination of the photostability.

The state density calculations were based on a grid according to the Monkhorst-Pack scheme. The surface calculations were performed in accordance with the “slab model method” with a vacuum thickness of 10 Å.

EXAMPLES

The invention is explained on the basis of Examples 1 to 14 (doping of the SiO₂ layer with one of the doping elements Sn, Sb, In, Ge, Y, Nb, F, Mn, Cu, Mo, Cd, Ce, W, Bi), Comparative Example 1 (pure SiO₂ layer), Comparative Example 2 (doping of the SiO₂ layer with Mg) and Comparative Example 3 (doping of the SiO₂ layer with Al).

The calculation for Comparative Example 1 is based on complete coverage of a TiO₂ (110) surface with an SiO₂ monolayer. In this context, the unit cell comprises 52 atoms (Ti₈Si₈O₃₆). Applied to the pigment, the calculated monomolecular coverage with SiO₂ with a layer thickness of approximately 0.2 nm corresponds to a percentage by weight of roughly 0.3% by weight SiO₂, referred to TiO₂.

The percentage by weight was calculated on the basis of the following values: typical value of the specific surface (to BET) for TiO₂ particles manufactured by the chloride process: 6.2 m²/g; thickness of the monomolecular layer: 0.2 nm; density of the SiO₂ layer: 2.2 g/cm³.

Examples 1 to 14 and Comparative Examples 2 and 3 describe coverage of the TiO₂ surface with a monomolecular SiO₂ layer doped at an atomic ratio of 1 (doping element X):7 (Si), i.e. the unit cell comprises Ti₈Si₇X₁O₃₆. Applied to the TiO₂ pigment, this results in the following percentages by weight of the doping elements, calculated as oxide and referred to TiO₂:

Example 1: roughly 0.10% by weight SnO₂,

Example 2: roughly 0.09% by weight Sb₂O₃,

Example 3: roughly 0.09% by weight In₂O₃,

Example 4: roughly 0.07% by weight GeO₂,

Example 5: roughly 0.14% by weight Y₂O₃,

Example 6: roughly 0.09% by weight Nb₂O₅,

Example 7: roughly 0.01% by weight F,

Example 8: roughly 0.06% by weight MnO₂,

Example 9: roughly 0.06% by weight CuO,

Example 10: roughly 0.10% by weight MoO₃,

Example 11: roughly 0.09% by weight CdO,

Example 12: roughly 0.12% by weight CeO₂,

Example 13: roughly 0.16% by weight WO₃,

Example 14: roughly 0.09% by weight Bi₂O₃,

Reference Example 2: roughly 0.03% by weight MgO,

Reference Example 3: roughly 0.04% by weight Al₂O₃,

Results

The result of the quantum-mechanical CASTEP calculations is the electronic structure. This can be analysed in the form of band structures (energy bands spatially resolved) or the state densities (integrated energy states).

FIG. 1 shows a simplified block diagram (d) of the electronic structure. The block diagram reflects only the energy bandwidth and position of the energy band. The state density (e) is used for the energy state distribution within the energy band.

FIG. 2 shows the effect of a pure, undoped SiO₂ coating (Comparative Example 1) on the photoactivity of the TiO₂: the calculated state density of the pure TiO₂ (110) surface is shown as a broken line, that of the SiO₂-coated surface as a solid line. The positive effect of the SiO₂ coating on photostability is partly based on the reduction of the state density in the conduction band (CB) near the band edge, compared to the uncoated TiO₂ surface, this reducing the transfer of electron-hole pairs to the surrounding matrix. At the same time, the positive effect is intensified by the fact that there is additionally a reduction in the state density near the band edge in the valence band (VB).

FIG. 3 shows the effect of doping the SiO₂ layer with Sn (Example 1) on the state densities, compared to the pure SiO₂ coating. In this case, there is a further reduction in the VB state density near the band edge, this leading to improved photostability.

FIGS. 4 to 8 show the respective effect of doping the SiO₂ layer with Sb (Example 2, FIG. 4), In (Example 3, FIG. 5), Ge (Example 4, FIG. 6), Y (Example 5, FIG. 7) and Nb (Example 6, FIG. 8). Surprisingly, a reduction in the VB state density near the band edge can be seen in each case, meaning that these coatings lead to an increase in photostability. Similar doping of the SiO₂ layer with the elements Zr or Zn likewise leads to improved stability compared to an undoped SiO₂ layer.

FIGS. 9 to 16 show the respective effect of doping the SiO₂ layer with F (Example 7, FIG. 9), Mn (Example 8, FIG. 10), Cu (Example 9, FIG. 11), Mo (Example 10, FIG. 12), Cd (Example 11, FIG. 13), Ce (Example 12, FIG. 14), W (Example 13, FIG. 15) and Bi (Example 14, FIG. 16). Doping of the SiO₂ layer with F, Mn, Cu, Mo, Cd, Ce, W or Bi surprisingly leads to additional energy states within the band gap which serve as recombination centers for electron hole pairs and thus to an improved photostability.

FIG. 17 shows the effect of doping the SiO₂ layer with Mg (Comparative Example 2) on the energy state densities. In this case, there is an increase in the VB state density near the band edge, meaning that doping of the SiO₂ layer with Mg results in a loss of photostability.

FIG. 18 shows the effect of doping the SiO₂ layer with Al (Comparative Example 3) on the energy state densities. In this case again, there is an increase in the VB state density near the band edge, meaning that doping of the SiO₂ layer with Al results in a loss of photostability.

The results of the state density calculations correlate precisely with the measurements of photostability in the experimentally doped samples. Thus, the calculations can be used to predict the usefulness of the elemental dopants without the much more difficult and time consuming trial and error experiments of trying to incorporate the dopants in the dense skins, and then measuring the photostability. One of skill in the art may use the results of the present specification to calculate and predict the results of any other dopant elements not mentioned specifically in this specification, for which the calculations have not yet been completed. Use of such dopant elements is claimed in this application, excluding only those dopant elements which have been experimentally found and published. The dopant elements known to the inventors which have previously been experimentally found and published are, for the dry process, Ag, Al, B, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, Sr, Ti, Zn, and Zr, and for the wet process, Al, B, Ge, Mg, Nb, P, and Zr. The inventors state that the results of the wet process may not necessarily be used to predict the results of the dry processes, and vice versa, so that separate applications are necessary for each process.

Process control

Methods for coating titanium dioxide particles with dense SiO₂ as such are known. The traditional processes work via the aqueous phase. To this end, a TiO₂ particle suspension is produced, mixed with a dispersant where appropriate, and wet-milled where appropriate. The dense SiO₂ skin is customarily precipitated by adding alkali metal-silicate solutions and appropriate pH value control.

The doping element is added in the form of a salt solution, together with the silicate solution or separately before or after addition of the silicate solution. The person skilled in the art is familiar with the suitable compounds and necessary quantities for controlling the pH value in order to produce a dense skin.

Doping of the dense SiO₂ skin according to the invention can, for example, be achieved by adding the following salts to the suspension, where this compilation is not to be interpreted as a restriction of the invention.

Doping with Sb: antimony chloride, antimony chloride oxide, antimony fluoride, antimony sulphate

Doping with In: indium chloride, indium sulphate

Doping with Ge: germanium chloride, germanates

Doping with Y: yttrium chloride, yttrium fluoride

Doping with Nb: niobium chloride, niobates

Doping with F: flourine hydrogen, fluorides

Doping with Mn: manganese chloride, manganese sulphate

Doping with Cu: copper chloride, copper sulphate

Doping with Mo: molybdenum chloride, molybdates

Doping with Cd: cadmium chloride, cadmium sulphate

Doping with Ce: cerium nitrate, cerium sulphate

Doping with W: wolframates

Doping with Bi: bismuth nitrate, bismuth sulphate

In a particularly preferred embodiment, an outer layer of hydrous aluminium oxide is additionally applied to the particles by known methods.

In another embodiment of the invention, the dense SiO₂ skin is deposited on the particle surface from the gas phase. Various methods are known for this purpose. For example, coating can be performed in a fluidised bed at temperatures below roughly 1,000° C. Methods of this kind are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,552,995, GB 1 330 157 or US 2001 0041217 A1. Alternatively, coating takes place in a tubular reactor directly following formation of the TiO₂ particles in the chloride process; these methods are described, for example, in patents or patent applications WO 98/036441 A1, EP 0 767 759 B1, EP 1042 408 B1 and WO 01/081410 A2. For coating in a tubular reactor, the precursor compound used for the SiO₂ is customarily a silicon halide, particularly SiCl₄, which is generally introduced downstream of the point where the reactants TiCl₄ and AlCl₃ are combined with the oxygen-containing gas. For instance, WO 01/081410 A2 indicates that the silicon halide is added at a point where the TiO₂ formation reaction is at least 97% complete. In any case, the temperatures at the point of introduction should be above 1,000° C., preferably above 1,200° C. The SiO₂ precursor compound is oxidised and deposited on the surface of the TiO₂ particles in the form of a dense silicon dioxide skin. In contrast to the wet-chemical method, water and hydrate-free oxide layers are formed during gas-phase treatment, these adsorbing hydroxyl ions and water molecules only on the surface.

The doping element is likewise added to the particle stream as a precursor compound, either in parallel with the SiO₂ precursor compound, or upstream or downstream. Here, too, the temperature of the particle stream at the point of introduction must be above 1,000° C., preferably above 1,200° C. The following compounds are suitable precursor compounds for the various doping metal oxides, although this compilation is not to be interpreted as a restriction of the invention:

Doping with Sn: tin halide, such as tin chloride

Doping with Sb: antimony halide, such as antimony chloride

Doping with In: indium halide, such as indium chloride

Doping with Y: yttrium halide, such as yttrium chloride

Doping with Zr: zirconium halide, such as zirconium chloride

Doping with Zn: zinc halide, such as zinc chloride

Doping with Nb: niobium halide, such as niobium chloride

Doping with F: fluorine, fluorine hydrogen, fluorides

Doping with Mn: manganese chloride

Doping with Cu: copper chloride

Doping with Mo: molybdenum chloride

Doping with Cd: cadmium chloride

Doping with Ce: cerium chloride

Doping with W: tungsten chloride

Doping with Bi: bismuth chloride

In a particularly preferred embodiment, an outer layer of aluminium oxide is additionally applied to the particles by introducing a suitable aluminium oxide precursor compound, such as AlCl₃, into the particle stream farther downstream.

Finally, the titanium dioxide pigments provided with the doped, dense SiO₂ skin can be further treated by known methods, regardless of whether they were coated in a suspension or in the gas phase. For example, further inorganic layers of one or more metal oxides can be applied. Moreover, further surface treatment with nitrate and/or organic surface treatment can be performed. The compounds known to the person skilled in the art for organic surface treatment of titanium dioxide pigment particles are also suitable for organic surface treatment of the particles according to the invention, e.g. organosilanes, organosiloxanes, organophosphonates, etc., or polyalcohols, such as trimethylethane (TME) or trimethylpropane (TMP), etc.

The titanium dioxide pigment particles according to the invention are suitable for use in plastics, paints, coatings and papers. They can also be used as a starting basis for a suspension for producing paper or coatings, for example.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. All of the above identified U.S. provisional applications, patents, and reference material, including references contained therein, are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 

1. Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) pigment particles, comprising: a) TiO₂ core particles; b) a dense silicon dioxide (SiO₂) skin covering the core particles, the dense skin produced in a wet-chemical process, the dense skin doped with at least one doping element, wherein the at least one doping element is selected from the group consisting of Sb, In, Ge, Y, Nb, F, Mo, Ce, W and Bi as well as mixtures thereof.
 2. The TiO₂ pigment particles of claim 1, further comprising; c) a further coating of aluminium oxide or hydrous aluminium oxide upon the dense skin covering.
 3. The TiO₂ pigment particles of claim 2, wherein the aluminium content of the further coating is 0.5 to 6.0% by weight calculated as Al₂O₃ and referred to the total pigment.
 4. The TiO₂ pigment particles of claim 3, wherein the aluminium content of the further coating is 1.0 to 4.0% by weight.
 5. The TiO₂ pigment particles of claim 1, wherein the silicon content of the dense skin is 0.1 to 6.0% by weight calculated as SiO₂ and referred to the total pigment.
 6. The TiO₂ pigment particles of claim 5, wherein the the silicon content of the dense skin is 0.2 to 4.0% by weight, calculated as SiO₂ and referred to the total pigment.
 7. The TiO₂ pigment particles of claim 1, wherein the content of doping elements in the dense skin is 0.01 to 3.0% by weight calculated as oxide and in the case of F calculated as element.
 8. The TiO₂ pigment particles of claim 7, wherein the content of doping elements in the dense skin is 0.05 to 2.0% by weight.
 9. A method for manufacturing TiO₂ pigment particles whose surface is coated with a dense SiO₂ skin doped with at least one doping element comprising the steps: a) providing an aqueous suspension of TiO₂ core particles, the aqueous suspension having pH>10; b) adding an aqueous solution of an alkaline silicon component and at least one aqueous solution of a component containing at least one doping element, wherein at least one doping element is are selected from the group consisting of Sb, In, Ge, Y, Nb, F, Mo, Ce, W and Bi as well as mixtures thereof, c) reducing the pH value of the suspension to a value<9 to produce a dense SiO₂ skin doped with at least one doping element deposited on the TiO₂ core particles.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising; d) adding an aqueous solution of an aluminum containing component to the suspension to produce a further layer of aluminium oxide or hydrous aluminium oxide on the dense SiO₂ skin.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising; e) adding an aqueous solution of an organic component to produce a further layer of organic material on the aluminium oxide or hydrous aluminium oxide layer.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the silicon content of the dense skin is 0.1 to 6.0% by weight calculated as SiO₂ and referred to the total pigment.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the the silicon content of the dense skin is 0.2 to 4.0% by weight, calculated as SiO₂ and referred to the total pigment.
 14. The method of claim 9, wherein the content of doping elements in the dense skin is 0.01 to 3.0% by weight calculated as oxide and in the case of F calculated as element.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the content of doping elements in the dense skin is 0.05 to 2.0% by weight calculated as oxide and in the case of F calculated as element.
 16. The method of claim 9, further comprising; d) adding the TiO₂ pigment particles produced in step c) to a process for making plastics, paints, coatings or papers.
 17. The method of claim 10, further comprising; e) adding the TiO₂ pigment particles produced in step d) to a process for making plastics, paints, coatings or papers.
 18. The method of claim 11, further comprising; f) adding the TiO₂ pigment particles produced in step e) to a process for making plastics, paints, coatings or papers.
 19. Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) pigment particles, comprising: a) TiO₂ core particles; b) a dense silicon dioxide (SiO₂) skin covering the core, the dense skin produced in a wet-chemical process, the dense skin doped with at least one doping element, wherein the at least one doping element either reduces the density of states near the band edge or creates additional states in the band gap of the material of the dense skin, excluding doping elements selected from the group consisting of Ag, Al, B, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, Sr, Ti, Zn, and Zr. 